Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a 243 kilometres or 151 mile long stretch of road that connects the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built between 1919 and 1932 by returned soldiers and is the world’s largest war memorial dedicated to the casualties of World War I. The road is an important tourist spot in the region and has many accommodations where holiday makers can spend the night.

Accommodations

There are plenty of holiday rentals available in the many towns and villages that you come across while driving down the Great Ocean Road. Spend the night listening to the sound of waves crashing into the cliffs in a holiday home or take a gander at the stunning view available from the window of your holiday apartment.

Attractions

The biggest attractions along the Great Ocean Road are the 12 Apostles. These limestone cliffs were formed millions of years ago and now stand about 45 metres above the waves. View then at sunrise and sunset and you will notice that the change colour from dark and foreboding to a brilliant sandy yellow.

If you are on the lookout for something different, then head over to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Shipwrecked Sound and Laser Show. During the day, the Flagstaff Hill Maritime village is a maritime village and museum. It is the holder of Victoria’s largest maritime and shipwreck collection. By night, the area plays host to ‘Shipwrecked’, a theatrical multi media and outdoor special effects experience that brings to life the tragic story of the Loch Ard disaster.

Nature lovers visit the Great Otway National Park. The park has tall rainforests that are fringed by a rugged coastline. There are also a number of spectacular waterfalls dotted around the park.

Things to Do

There is an abundance of water sporting activities all throughout the Great Ocean Road. There are a number of dive sites along the road. The best is in Port Phillip Bay where you can see the wreck of the HMAS Canberra and many other nineteenth century shipwrecks. If its swimming that you are after, then Torquay has a beautiful Norfolk pine lined beach front where you can have a swim in relative safety.

If you are an ardent golfer, then the scenic coastal views provided by the Clifton Springs Golf Club and the Queenscliff Golf Club are sure to blow your mind.

Eating and Drinking

Perched atop Beacon Point, Chris’s Restaurant offers the finest in Mediterranean inspired dishes. If you believe that eating and spirituality are interlinked then you should visit the Hare Krishna Valley for a one of a kind eating experience.

Climate

The Great Ocean Road experiences warm summer with a temperature averaging around 23° C and 24° C. winters are cool with the temperatures averaging around 13° C and 14° C.

Reaching the Great Ocean Road

Torquay is about an hour and a half’s drive away from Melbourne Airport via the Princess Freeway.

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